Spring is Here — Mark Deck Maintenance and Repair Off Your List

Category: Tips for Your Home

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With springtime in the air, thoughts turn to that trusty back deck that’s served so well for so many years. Barbecues, parties or simply relaxing on a lounge chair, favorite drink in hand—it all happens on that deck. But is your deck ready for all that action? If one of your spring to-do items is deck maintenance and repair, consider leaving that to a reliable handyman.

Inspecting

Do you know how to do deck maintenance and repair to ensure the safety of your family and guests? Hiring a professional handyman will ease your worry. Can you tell the difference between a harmless crack and a structural weakness? Can you recognize mold on the underside of structural members? Do you know why ugly, brown streaks appear beneath screw and nail holes?

Repairing

If your deck is more than a decade old, it may be in need of significant deck maintenance and repair. Piers may have settled or risen from frost heaves, or rot may have started in posts. Long cracks in stair stringers are common problems as well. The walking surface needs to be checked for screws that have worked out and raised themselves, becoming a tripping hazard.

Upgrading

Are little ones safe on your deck? Is the walking (or crawling) surface smooth and splinter-free? Are the balusters the correct spacing to prevent tiny heads from poking through? Perhaps you need gates at the tops of stairs off the deck with child-proof latches. Here’s a tip: if you don’t know what balusters are (they’re the uprights in your railing,) you’ll be better off hiring a handyman.

Cleaning and Sealing

Once the deck maintenance and repair is done, your deck must be cleaned. Pressure washing and a scrub brush, followed by thorough rinsing, are best. After cleaning, sealing will protect your deck throughout the busy barbecue season.